The City of Toronto's Market Gallery is showcasing the impact of immigration on Toronto from the 1700s until present in a new exhibit, Settling in Toronto: The Quest for Freedom, Opportunity and Identity, running from March 25 to July 15. The exhibit examines the experiences of new Canadians and illuminates how Toronto has grown and changed over time.

"Toronto's history continues to be shaped by immigrants from around the world who have come here to create a better life for themselves and their families," said Mayor John Tory. "This exhibit will shed a light on Toronto's immigration stories and how the city has evolved as a result of the diversity of these experiences."

“People from all over the world dream of building a life in our major Ontario cities. They save and sacrifice just for a chance to call this province home, because there are few places in the world that can match our quality of life, natural beauty and inclusive culture. This exhibit will showcase the journey many of our families took to build strong roots here,” said Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “Our 150th anniversary is a chance for us to remember how much we, as Ontarians, have to be proud of and what we can accomplish when we come together.”

The exhibit will use videos, oral histories, artifacts and historical documents to reveal the evolution of Toronto through personal stories of struggle, triumph and celebration. The history of indigenous peoples in the Toronto area will also be highlighted. The name Toronto is derived from the Mohawk word tkaronto (meaning trees standing in water) and Toronto has been the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, including the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation.

"This exhibit helps us celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary by exploring the roots of Toronto’s renowned diversity and providing a kaleidoscopic view of what being Canadian in Toronto means today," said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City's Economic Development Committee.

"It is ideal that this exhibit is being displayed at the Market Gallery in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, as this area of the city has changed in tandem with the city's immigration over the last two centuries," said Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell (Ward 28 Toronto Centre-Rosedale).

The Market Gallery, one of 10 historic sites operated by the City of Toronto, presents exhibitions dedicated to Toronto’s art, culture and history and offers educational programs for school groups and adults. The gallery is located on the second floor of the South St. Lawrence Market, 95 Front St. E. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery is closed Sunday, Monday and holidays. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/marketgallery.

This exhibit is presented by the City in partnership with the Ontario150 program to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Province of Ontario in 2017 (Ontario.ca/150).

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. In 2017, Toronto will honour Canada's 150th birthday with "TO Canada with Love," a year-long program of celebrations, commemorations and exhibitions. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TorontoComms and on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto